Japan-United Kingdom Relations

Japan-U.K. Summit Telephone Talk

On July 26, commencing at 6:15 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a telephone talk with the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Prime Minster Abe congratulated Prime Minister May on her appointment as Prime Minster, and conveyed his desire to cooperate to strongly develop the Japan-UK relations, stated that the UK was an important partner with global influence that shares with Japan universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

2. Furthermore, with regard to the UK leaving the EU, Prime Minster Abe requested that the UK and EU cooperate in order to clearly indicate the future outlook for the negotiations so that foreseeability will be enhanced and businesses will be able to operate smoothly. He also pointed out that there were still high expectations for the UK to remain a gateway to Europe and a global financial hub, and asked for an appropriate response in all areas to avoid adverse effects on Japanese companies operating in the UK.

3. In response, Prime Minister May stated that the UK had decided to leave the EU but it had not decided to step back from the world, that she desired to continue to develop the relations with Japan while being oriented toward expansion, and that she was aware of the importance of Japanese investment in the UK and intended to undertake the negotiations with the EU going forward while taking Japanese concerns, including those of Japanese companies, into consideration. She also expressed her awareness of the importance of London remaining a financial hub for the world.

4. They agreed to continue contributing actively to peace and prosperity based on rules in the international community, including Asia.